Lee Moniz, president of the Bainbridge-based Tyler Moniz Project, was recently recognized as a 2019 Molina Healthcare Community Champion.

The Tyler Moniz Project was one of seven organizations chosen from more than 100 nonprofits in the state of Washington. Winners are chosen based on their work to “improve the quality of life in the community where they live,” and awarded $3,000 to support the important ongoing work of their organization.

Since 2017, the Tyler Moniz Project has been instrumental in bringing community organizations and service providers together to raise awareness of the emotional well-being challenges unique to Bainbridge Island youth. Particularly, youth experiencing acute mental health crises.

Through the “Conversation Bench” project, sponsored film screenings, community and online discussion forums, public fundraisers, sportsman scholarships and “Tyler’s Treasures” outreach, the organization works to elevate the cultural conversation around mental health.